Editorial & Curation Policy

9.1 Purpose

Burd & Co., a sole proprietorship ("we," "us," or "Company"), manually reviews and approves every listing on burdandco.com ("the Site"). This Editorial & Curation Policy explains the criteria we apply when evaluating listing applications and when making decisions to maintain, update, or remove existing listings.

Publishing this policy is intended to provide transparency to applicants and protect Burd & Co. against disputes arising from listing rejections or removals. Nothing in this policy creates a contractual obligation on the part of Burd & Co. to approve any application.

9.2 Geographic Eligibility

The Site is a directory for the Greater San Diego and Southern California creative community. To be eligible for a listing, an applicant must meet at least one of the following:

• Be physically based (office, studio, or primary place of business) in the Greater San Diego area or broader Southern California region;
• Actively and regularly serve clients located in the Greater San Diego or Southern California region; or
• Be a freelancer or sole practitioner who is a resident of Southern California.

Businesses or individuals based entirely outside Southern California will not be approved, even if they occasionally accept remote projects from the region.

9.3 Category Eligibility

The Site currently lists professionals in the following categories:

• Brand Design
• Photography
• Videography
• Web Design
• AI Solutions
• Production
• Studio Rentals
• Equipment Rentals
• Events
• Crew

Applicants must offer services that fall clearly and primarily within one of the above categories. Multi-disciplinary businesses may be listed under their primary or most relevant category. Applications from businesses whose services do not fit any listed category will be declined. Burd & Co. may add or modify categories at any time; existing listings will not be automatically removed solely due to a category change.

9.4 Quality Standards

We curate the directory to maintain a consistent standard of professional quality. During the review process, we evaluate:

Portfolio and Work Samples

Applicants should have a publicly accessible portfolio, website, or social media presence that demonstrates professional-grade work. We look for evidence of completed commercial projects, a consistent aesthetic or technical standard, and work relevant to the category applied for. We do not require any specific minimum number of completed projects.

Professional Presentation

We evaluate whether the applicant presents themselves and their business in a professional manner, including the quality of their business name, logo or branding, and written description submitted with the application.

Active Practice

We confirm that the applicant is actively operating and available for new work at the time of application. Dormant or retired businesses are not eligible.

Online Presence

While not strictly required, a professional website or active social media presence in the relevant field is considered a positive indicator. Applicants with no verifiable online presence may be asked to provide additional information.

9.5 Grounds for Rejection

We may reject a listing application for any of the following reasons, without limitation:

• The applicant does not meet the geographic eligibility criteria in Section 9.2;
• The applicant's services do not fit any listed category (Section 9.3);
• The portfolio or work samples do not demonstrate a professional standard of quality (Section 9.4);
• The application contains false, incomplete, or misleading information;
• The applicant's business is associated with illegal, fraudulent, or harmful activities;
• The applicant has previously been removed from the directory for a violation of our Terms of Service or Listing Terms; or
• At Burd & Co.'s sole and absolute discretion, for any reason not inconsistent with applicable law.

Rejection does not constitute a finding of wrongdoing by the applicant. Payment made before rejection will be refunded in full. See our Refund Policy.

9.6 Grounds for Removal of an Existing Listing

An approved listing may be removed at any time if:

• The listed business no longer meets the eligibility criteria in Sections 9.2 or 9.3;
• The quality of the listed business's work or professional conduct has materially declined;
• We receive credible and substantiated complaints from clients or third parties;
• The listed business violates the Terms of Service or Listing Terms & Advertiser Agreement; or
• At Burd & Co.'s sole and absolute discretion.

Removal within 30 days of payment is eligible for a refund under our Refund Policy. Removal after 30 days does not entitle the Advertiser to a refund.

9.7 Review Process

All applications are reviewed manually by Burd & Co. We aim to complete initial review within 5 business days of receiving both a completed application and confirmed payment. We may request additional information from applicants during the review process. Failure to provide requested information within 10 business days may result in the application being closed; a full refund will be issued in that case.

9.8 Appeals

If your application is rejected and you believe the decision was made in error, you may submit a written appeal to connect@burdandco.com within 14 days of receiving the rejection notice. Include your business name, the reason you believe the rejection was incorrect, and any additional evidence you wish us to consider. We will review appeals and respond within 10 business days. Our decision on appeal is final.

Appeals based solely on disagreement with a discretionary judgment (rather than an error of fact) are unlikely to succeed. We encourage applicants to include comprehensive portfolio information in their initial application to avoid the need for an appeal.

9.9 No Obligation to Approve

This policy is published for transparency purposes only. Nothing in this policy, on the Site, or in any communication from Burd & Co. creates an obligation or promise to approve any listing application. The payment of a listing fee does not guarantee approval. Burd & Co. retains full discretion over the content and composition of the directory at all times.

9.10 Changes to This Policy

We may update this Editorial & Curation Policy at any time by posting a revised version on the Site. Changes take effect when posted. The policy in effect at the time of your application governs your application review. If standards change materially after your listing goes live, we will make reasonable efforts to notify active Advertisers before applying updated standards to existing listings.